Aerial navigation.



CHRISTOPHER JOHN LAKE (NAME CHANGED FROM JOHN CHRISTOPHER LAKE BY JUDICIAL ORDER).

AERIAL NAVIGATION.

APPLICATION FIL'ED D30. 18, 1907.

918,336. Patented Apr. 13, 1909..

6 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

animate:

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- CHRISTOPHER JOHN LAKE (NAME CHANGED FROM JOHN CHRISTOPHER LAKE BY JUDICIAL ORDER).

AERIAL NAVIGATION.

APPLICATION FILED DEU.18 1907.

918,336. Patented Apr. 13. 1909.

6 BHEETBSHEET 2.

uoentot 'GHRISTOPHRRJOHN LAKE (NAME CHANGED FROM JOHN CHRISTOPHER LAKE;

BY JUDICIAL ORDER).

AERIAL NAVIGATION. APPLICATION FILED D3018, 1907.

Patented Apr. 13, 1909;.

6 BHEETBSHEETF 3L.

Evwcmtoz wihwoozo CHRISTOPHER JOHN LAKIHNAME CHANGED FROM JOHN CHRISTOPHER LAK E BY JUDICIAL ORDER).

AERIAL NAVIGATION. AiPLIOATION TILED DBO.18, 1907.

Patented Apr. 13, 1909.

6 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

1W!" use:

BY JUDICIAL ORDER).

AERIAL NAVIGATION.

APPLICATION FILED DEO.18, 1907.

Patented Apr. 13, 1909.

6 SHEETS-SHEET 5.

Q vi liucoaeo W .UNITED sTAr s PATENT OFFICE.

CHRISTOPHER JOHN LAKE, (NAME CHANGED FROM JOHN CHRISTOPHER LAKE BY JUDICIAL ORDER,) OF BRIDGEPORT, CONNECTICUT.

AERIAL NAVIGATION.

Specification elf Letters Patent.

Patented April 13, 1909.-

Application filed December 18, 1907. Serial No. 407,094.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CHRISTOPHER JOHN LAKE, (formerly JOHN Cnars'rornnn LAKE,) a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Bridge ort, in the county of Fairlield and State of onnccticut, have invented certain new and useful Im rovements in Aerial Navigation, of which t e following is a specificatlon.

My invention relates primarily to the propuls1on and operation of vessels for aerial navlgatlon, but it is adapted also for use in traveling on the land or over the surface of water or ice as may be desired, and for startmg on or landing from an aerial flight, or when the vessel is so loaded as to render it im racticable to-rise wholly in the air.

ne object of my invention is to provide for the propulsion of aerial or other vessels without resort to balloons for buoyancy and with less resistances to overcome than attends the usual methods of propulsion.

A furthergobject is to provide effective reserving or restoring the equi- A further object is to provide means for generating and applying heat force in the form of steam or other heated elastic fluid diroot and impulsively to the air immediately adjacent the vessel in such manner as to overcome the effect ofgravit-y and of wind or air'currents.

A further object is to so apply the generated forcethat while lifting or propelling the vessel it will alsotend to create. a vacuum immediately above and ahead of the vessel.

A further object is to provide for the transference. of the energy of the steam or other fluid issuing from the vessel into a relatively large volume of air drawn from above or ahead of the vessel and concentrated at the point of contact wit-h the power fluid so as to absorb the energy thereof and issue ,in greatly expanded volume below 'or behind the vessel, so as to support the/vessel and to p drive it forward.

With the above objects in view and other appear as the nature of myobjects which will invention is more 1y disclosed, I have invented the vessel or vehicle, one form of which is illustrated on the acc'oni anying drawings forming a part of this spec-i cation,

and in which,

I Figure 1 is a top plan view. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section on line mm of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 IS a front end elevation. Fig. -l is a lating valve and pendulum attachment for varying the flow of power fluid. Fig. 9 is a sectional view on line rr-ar of Fig. 8. Fig. H) is a skeleton view of the ower fluid distributing system of the vesse Similar reference characters are used to designate corresponding parts throughout the several views.

The body or main portion of the vessel is formed of the substantially horizontal upper and lower assages or conduits 1 and 2 to the upper of w rich are attachedthe hollow wings 3 and 4, and'the lower of which forms by its under side the body or hull for water navigation and carries the wheels 6 and 7, for land travel. The upper and lower conduits are rectangular -in section and are contracted throughout their central portions intermediate their expanded open ends at which portions they are attached to each other leaving the space 9 which provides room for operating machinery, passengers etc; on top of the lower passage, and which is shown open for purposes of-illustration, but may be inclosed in actual practice. The upper passage is contracted in its horizontal as well as its vertical dimensions while the lower one is not contracted except in a vertical direction. This provides space for the centrally contracted vertical passages 12, 13, 14, and-15 adjacent the upper passage 1, and leading made lleXible or elastic by means of spiral or helical springs 27; the telescoping sides prevent lateral displacement between the two portions and any suitable form of guides or the like may be used to secure them longitudinally.

The aprons 30 and 31 are secured to the under body by the hinges 28 and 29. They close the apertures 18 and 19 and carry on their lower portions the wheels 6 and 7. The angle of these aprons and with it the position of the wheels is controlled by the screw and spring mechanism arranged on opposite sides of each apron and shown in detail in Figs. 6 and 7. The pivoted collar or eye 32 is connected to the side of the apron by the ivot 26 passing through the bracket 28 an the nut 33 is similarly connect-ed to the upturned side 22. A screw 34 having a head 35 is passed through the eye 32, screwed up through the nut 33 and provided with the hand-wheel 36. A stout helical spring 37 is arranged on the unthreaded portion of the bolt between the pivoted eye 32 and the nut or washer 38 which keeps the spring in position. By turning the hand-wheel the eye 32, and withit the apron and wheels may be adjusted so as to open the aperture 18 and depress the wheels or close the aperture and elevate the wheels, and in any open position the wheels will be capable of compression toward the under body 20 against the resistance of the springs 37 which thus provide for smoothness of travel on the land as well as over rough Waters or uneven ice. The screw and springmechanism is attached to both aprons 30 and 31. It is illustrated as though operated independently on opposite sides of the aprons, but it is obvious t at they can be geared together so as to operate by means of one hand-Wheel or other device.

In addition to the closable openings 18 and 19 the under body is provided with a series of slant openings 40, the purpose of which-will later appear.

The wings 3 and 4 are of doublethickness I comprising the upper and lower planes or curved surfaces 42 and 43 with a space between as shown in section by Fig. 4. The upper planes 42 are continuous acrossthe top of the vessel for both wings, but in their fore and after portions they merge smoothly into the upper expanded ends of the vertical assages 12, 13, 14 and 15. ower wing lanes 43 curves downwardly and joins the si es of the upper longitudinal passage 1. The upper and lower planes are so disposed in relation to each other that they form fore and aft centrally contracted wing passages 44, a typical section of which is shown in Fig. 4. The upper and lower wing planes are each provided with a series of ivoted leaves 46 and 47 so linked together ythe bars-48 that they will form continuous surfaces or may be turned to form the slant Each of the openings 50 and 51 as shown. Cords or wires I secured to the lower side of the passage 1 by the hangers 53. The cord 54 which opens the leaves is attached in the groove of the upper quadrant and the one that closes them is fastened to the lower. rangement as shown in Fig. 5 is applied to the left wing 4. And this is duplicated on the opposite side for the wing 3. The two independent pendulums obey the same tendencies to swing so that any action in one wing is attended by the opposite action in the other,- but the pendulums may be swung by hand in any manner desired. Any lateral inclination of the vessel causes relative movement of the endulums toward the side depressed. This movement draws on the cord 54 and pays outthe cord 55, thus opening the leaves to form slant openings through which air is drawn from above the wing and expelled below, the effect of which is .to elevate the wing and restore the vessels equilibrium. In thedevice shown a pendulum alone is used for operating the cords but a A detail of this areither as a substitute for the pendulum or in conjunction therewith, the gyroscope having its axis in the plane through which the pendulum swings and preferably passing through its center'of arc.

The generator 65 supplies a heated elastic fluid to furnish power for the entire vessel. The fluid is conducted to its several points of application by the system of pipes shown in Fig. 10. These pipes are provided with cutoff valves 66 and regulating valves 67 to govern the flow. A detail of the regulating valve is shown in Figs. 7 and 8. His placed at the intersection of branch ipes leading to opposite portions of the vessellor the purpose of varying the relative quantity of flow on the opposlte sides and maybe operated either by hand or by automatic means. The regulating valve 67 is formed of a plug having about half its thickness cut away in its middle. The plug is fitted in a valve chamber 68 threaded for-the inlet pipe 64 and the two outlets 75 and 76. The handle 62 of the plug hangs downwardly and provides means for turning it. The handle carries a pendulum 63 so adjusted that the valve will be operated by its swing. Normally all the passages in the valve chamber are open-and the position of the plug is such that a slight turning movementwill increase the openin 4 to one outlet and diminish the-opening to t e other. The

' pipe 80 leads from the generator to one of these valves and the branches 81'and 82 conduct the fluid to the projectors 83 and-84 in the upper and lower longitudinal passages in the vertical passages. Each of the branches 86 and 87 leads in turn to another regulating v valve controllin branches 75 and 76 on each ward of the adjusta strong reaction at the other, thus giving the vessel a tendency to move by the combined side of the vesse which supply the rojectors 74 in the forward and after 'vertica passages 12 and 13 and 14 and 15. Thepipe 88 conducts fluid to the branch pipes 89 and 90 having a regulating valve at their intersection and leading to the interior of the wings on either side Where the fluid is discharged through a series of rojectors 91 located forfile eaves 46 and 47. The functionof all of the projectors is the sarr e, namely, to discharge the power fluid through the passages in which they are placed in such manner as to draw air from in front and above the passage and discharge it behind or below with greatly increased volume and energy. This'produces a tendency toward vacuum at one end of the passage and 2.

effect of attraction and ropulsion.

-I am aware that it is o d to use a current of air throu h a passa e and it is also old to use a jet of e astic fl'ui for propulsion. I have extendedthe )rior art by utilizing the joint action of the uidjet and the air current so that each is of special advantage to the and the air current, in turn, provides a coin tact'lwith the jet which augments and eX-- stant abutment to receive the impact of the jet. These are important features, for it is well known that the efliciency of propulsion increases wit h the size of the current discharged and that a jet projected in dead or -slack air at the rear of a vessel is of comparatively small value. In my invention live air is drawn in from in front of the vessel and concentrated to intimate conpands the volume of air into the most eflicient sternward stream. All these advantages come from the mere joint action ofthe jet and the air current, by whatever means they may be respectively produced. The invention comprises, however, the further valuable feature of combined means for prod ucing the jet and the currentjof air, so that the jet not only heats and expands the air but actually produces the current as well.

he operation is as follows: Suppose the "forward part when the the-power fluid may be turned on in either or both the longitudinal passages and in the wings. bring the wings and other plane surfaces into effect as aeroplanes andcause the vessel to rise, the desired inclination of the vessel being maintained by varying the relative pro- The-resulting forward motion willpolling power in the u per and lower longitudinal assages and wings, and the steering being e ected by varying the relative prowardly when the greater propelling force is in the upper passages and being elevated in its reater propelling force is applied through t. e lower. passage. These varlations may be produced by manipulation of the cut-off valves 66 but it is inwings will cause that side of the pssel to adplivance. Thus a means is provid d for steer;

ing the vessel independentlv of the rudder "78, which may be omitted ii' desir d. When the start is made upon water the apertures 18 and 19'are closed and the fluid discharged in the passages as before. Any water in the lower passage 2 is immediately discharged by the power fluid and air passing therethrough. Some of the power fluid'and air enters the slant openings 40 and forming an air cushion between the water and the under body greatly reduces the frictional contact. These slant openings are shown iixed'but it is, obvious that they may be formed of pivoted leaves similar to those usedjin the wings if desired.

into the air by means of power from the vertical passages 12, 13, 14, and,15. The aper- When rough water is encountered the springs 27 come into play, and.

tures 18 and 19 are opened wide and full power turned on through the projectors 74. The atmosphere is thus drawn from' above the vessel and the upper side of its wings and discharged with great forbe and volume below. This action lifts the\vessel, givin it at. the same time a slight forward ten ency which may be increased by gradually bring vessel to be standing on the wheels 6 and 7 ing the longitudinal passages into play and and ready to start. If there is a good track diminishing the vertical action until the 'jectors.

speed is sufficient to render the wings and other plane surfaces fully effective for support.

During the vertical launching of the vessel equilibrium is maintained by varying the supply of power fluid in the vertical pro- This is ell'ected either by manual operation of the valves in the pipes leading thereto or by the automatic controlling device previously described and illustrated in Figs. 7 and 8. If one part of the vessel rises /more than another part it is only necessary to diminish the power applied to that part and increase it at the lower part, and this may be done automatically by a pendulum 'as 63 which, swinging always toward the lower part, opens the pipe leading to that part and closes the other. While a pendulum is shown in the drawings it is,

of course, understood that a gyroscope ma y be added or substituted in the sane manner as mentioned in connection .with the device shown in Fig. 5. After being launched into theair the equilibrium of the vessel is maintained by varying the amount of power applied through the various passages, and the lateral stability is more especially se- A cured also by the peculiar arrangement of .which have been described.

leaves in the upper and lower wing planes By this device the leaves may be. open to form slant openings through which air willbe drawn from above the wing by the power fluid and air passing therethrough. In this way more or less vacuum can be produced above either wing as may be required to restore the vessels equilibrium. By-the same action the leaves in either of the lower wing planes are opened and fluid discharged beneath the wing producing a pressure with the likeeflect as the vacuum that may be induced above. The opening and closing of the leaves may be performed either manually or automatically by the device which has been described and illustrated by Fig. 5.

Having now described one of the many forms in which my invention may be embodied, what I claim is;

1. In a vessel or vehicle, the combination of longitudinal air passages and substantially vertical air passages, each of said passages having a contracted central portion and expanding in either direction therefrom to enlarged open ends, means for producing a heated elastic fluid under pressure and means for discharging said fluid from points intermediate the ends of the conduits, and their contracted central portions in such manner as to impel air therethrough, the air being heated and expanded by said fluid during its traverse of the expanding portions of the conduits.

2. In a vessel or vehicle, the combination of laterally extending wings or aeroplanes,-

.being heated and expanded by said fluid during lts traverse of the expanding portions of the conduits.

3. In a vessel or vehicle the combination of a longitudinal air p'assa e-having enlarged open ends and incline openings intermediate the ends, means for generating a power fluid, and pro'eeto rs for discharging the fluid longitudinally of said passage.

4. In a vessel or vehicle thecombination of upper and lower parallel longitudinal air passages having enlarged open ends, means for generating a )ower fluid, projectors for discharging the uid longitudinally of said passages, and means for controlling the flow of fluid through the projectors.

5. In a vessel or vehicle the combination of hollow wings or aeroplanes forming open longitudinal passages, said passages being contracted in their central portions, meansfor generating a power fluid, and projectors for discharging the fluid into and through said passages. to propel the vessel from a point within the passages between their ends and their contracted portions.

6. In a vessel or vehicle the combination of a car or body, a compressioly and flexibly attached under body forming a longitudinal passage, means for generating a power fluid, and means for applying said fluid directly to air in the passage to cushion and propel the vessel.

7. A vessel or vehicle mounted on wheels and having Wings extending from either side, a flexibly and compressibly attached underbody adapted to glide over liquid or frozen water, and means for generating and applying a power fluid impulsively to air to propel the Vessel.

8. In a vessel or vehicle the combination of one or more substantially longitudinal air passages, and one or more substantially vertical air passages, all of said passages having enlarged open ends, and means for projecting a power fluid therein from a point within the passages between their ends and central portions. 1

9. In a vessel or vehicle the combination of one or more substantially longitudinal air passages, and one or more substantially Vertical air passages, all of said passages having enlarged open ends, and means for pro'ecting a power fluid therein from a point wit in the passages between their ends and central por- 1 ends, means for projecting a power fluid through said passages to propel the vessel,

tions and wings or aeroplanes extending laterally from the sides of the vessel.

10. In a vessel or vehicle the combination with wings or aeroplanes of upper and lower longitudinal passages, means for producing an air current through each of said passages, and means for varying the relativefl flow through said passages so as to control j the inclination of the vessel.

11. In a vessel or vehlcle tne combinatlon with. wings or aeroplanes of upper and lower longitudinal passages having enlarged open 1 and automatic means for varying the relative flow of said fluid through the passages so with the lower longltudinal passage and said as to control the inclination of the vessel.

13. The combination with an aerial vessel of wings or aeroplanes provided with centrally contracted longitudinal passages therethrough and means for projecting a power ,fluid through said passages to draw air therethrough, said fluid being applied within the .passages and forward of their contracted portions.

14. The combination with an aerial vessel.

of laterally extending wings or aeroplanes provided with centrally contracted longitudinal passages therethrough and means for for steering the vessel by varying the flow of said fluid on opposite sides thereof.

15. The combination with an aerial vessel of laterally extending wings or aeroplanes, eachwing being formed of upper and lower planes forming a longitudinal passage through the wing and having slant openings connecting with said passage from above and below the wing.

16. The combination with an aerial vessel of laterally extending wings or aeroplanes, each wing being formedof upper and lower planes forming a passage through the wing andhaving closable slant openings connecting with said passage fronr above and below the win 17. T lie combination with an aerial vessel .of laterally extending wings or aeroplanes having longitudinal passages therethrough and a series of pivoted leaves forming slant being provided for operating the pivoted leaves.

18. The combination with an aerial vessel of laterally extending wings or aeroplanes having longitudinal passages therethrough and a series of pivoted leaves forming slant openings between said passages and the upper and lower sides of the wings, automatic means being provided for operating the'pivoted leaves.

19. The combination with an aerial vessel of laterally extending wings or aeroplanes having longitudinal passages therethrough and a series of pivoted leaves forming slant openings between said passages and the upper and lower sides of the wings, automatic means being provided for operating the pivoted leaves and said means comprising cords or wires attached to said leaves and to a pendulum whereby the leaves are opened and closed by variations in the vessels lateral trim.

20. In an aerial vessel the coi'nbination of upper and lower longitudinal air passages and substantially vertical air passages, said vertical passages connecting at their lower ends lower )assagc being rovided with apertures in its )ottom beneat said vertical passages.

21. In an aerial vessel the combination of upper and lower longitudinal air passages and substantially vertical air passages, said vertical passages connecting at their lower ends with the lower longitudnal passage and said lower passage being provided with apertures in its bottom beneath said vertical passages and with means for opening and closing said apertures. I

22. In an aerial vessel the combination of upper and lower longitudinal air passages and substantially vertical air passages, said vertical passages connecting at their lower ends with the lower longitudinal passage and said lower passage being provided with apertures in its bottom beneath said vertical passages and with means for opening and closing said vertical passages, said means comprising hinged a rons and screw mechanism for raising andllowering said a rons.

23. In an aerial vessel the com ination with a longitudinal passage having hinged a rons closing apertures in its under side o'l' w l1eels on said aprons and means for raising and lowering the wheels.

24. In an aerial vessel the combination with a longitudinal passage having hinged aprons passages, and means for varying the flow of fluid from the projectors, said means comprising branch pipes leading to the projectors and a three-way valve at the intersection means for generating a power fluid, rojectors ior discharging the fluid throug sald passages, and automatic means for varying the flow of fluid from. the projectors, said means comprising branch pipes leading to the projectors, a three-way Valve at the intersection of said pipes and a pendulum lever for operating the valve.

28. The combination with a Vessel or vehicle of a flexibly connected under body forming an air passage and means for inducing a current of atmosphere therethrough to propel the vessel and to form a pneumatic cushion for its upper portion.

29; The com matron with a vessel or vehicle of a flexibly connected under body' forming an air' passage and means for inducing a current of atmosphere therethrough to ropel the vessel and to form a pneumatic cus ion for its upper portion, said means comprising a generator, a pipe leading therefrom to the assage, and a nozzle or projector on said pipe for discharging a power fluid in said passage. v

30. In a vessel or vehicle propelled by a power fluid applied impulsively to air flowmg through a assag'e, the combination of multiple propel ing devices and means for steering the vessel by varying the. relative power applied through the several propelling devices.

CHRISTOPHER JOHN LAKE,- (FORMER-LY JOHN CHRISTOPHER LAKE.) Witnesses:

A. E. ADAM, A. R. NEFF. 

